A good day of play, mate

Australia native Tschudin jumps into Hooters lead.

Australia native Tschudin jumps into Hooters lead.

May 20, 2006|STEVE WOZNIAK Tribune Staff Writer

GRANGER -- The other members of the Hooters Golf Tour playing at the LaSalle Bank Pro Golf Classic shouldn't really be surprised. After all, second-round leader Andrew Tschudin left a warning in the music on his cell phone: Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover. Yes, Tschudin comes from the land down under -- Australia -- but Knollwood Country Club is where he glowed and plundered on Thursday, posting a 7-under-par 65 to go to 12-under for the tournament and take a three-stroke lead over Nick Rousey of Pensacola, Fla. "Well, I don't think I've been playing above average or anything," said Tschudin, a native of Melbourne. "I think I've been playing to my potential." Tschudin, in the first group off the 10th tee Thursday morning, bogeyed two of his first three holes, but as they'd say back home, no worries, mate. He posted an eagle on the par-five 13th and then added seven birdies to take control of the tournament. "Pretty sound round," said Tschudin. "I hit a bunch of putts, actually chipped one in even." In the interest of full disclosure, though, it should be noted that the Hooters Tour is not Tschudin's primary competition. He also competes on the PGA Australian Tour, and even earned a spot in the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills He is currently ranked 1,138 in the world. "It's sort of different," Tschudin offered. "On the Australian Tour, we have the best players in the country there, like Stuart Appleby, so the competition is obviously a lot harder. "Unfortunately, it's not a big enough tour to play the whole year. We only have seven tournaments. I just wanted to keep playing the whole year, so I'm here on the Hooters Tour." So there's a ringer in their midst over there at Knollwood. "The course is playing pretty easy, I thought," said the confident Aussie. First-round leader Tommy Biershenk of Boiling Springs, S.C., struggled to an even-par 72, and sits in a tie for third place with three other golfers, four shots off the lead. Among the bevy of local golfers competing in the tournament, only Rolling Prairie's Mat Blair managed to survive the cut and advance to the weekend's final two rounds. It is the first cut made on the Hooters Tour for Blair, who followed his first-round 68 with a 3-over-par 75 on Thursday to sit at 1-under for the tournament. The cut line was at even par. "The thing is, my putter got bulky today," Blair said. "And I tried to press a little bit, and that's not good." But he made the cut, and that's what matters now. "You gotta get that first one some time," said Blair, alternately elated and relieved that he'll be finally earning a payday on the Tour this weekend. "And it's real nice to do it at home. Cuts down on expenses." Blair was playing with the day's largest gallery, which started with just a handful and then inherited Knollwood residents and neighbors as it winded through the course. "It does help having them around," he said. "It actually kept me in better spirits. When you get people following you like that, it shows they care. This is actually the best support I've seen from any crowd at any of our Hooters stops." Another member of Blair's threesome and a member of Knollwood, finished his two-day adventure with the pros at 7-over-par. Winamac's Dave Pugh barely missed the cut at 2-over. Former Marian and Notre Dame golfer Gavin Ferlic improved on his second day, but not enough to continue. Ferlic posted a 1-over 73 a day after struggling to an 80. Sturgis High School graduate Josh Heipel also just missed the cut at 2-over 146 for the two rounds. David Schultz of Saint Joseph shot a 75 Thursday to finish at 5-over. Also missing the cut were Saint Joseph's High School graduate Adam Criniti, Buchanan's Rob Zurwaski, South Bend's Ed Hartzer and Thomas Mannen, and Elkhart's Billy Bridwell. The only other remaining golfer with local connections is Todd Vernon, a former Notre Dame player who is sitting at 2-under.